Novalja is the bigest tourist center on island Pag. It's a town in the north of the island of Pag in Croatia.
In recent times Novalja has became famous because of the beach Zrće, which is one of the Europe's Biggest Party Zone. The earliest settlers on the island were an Illiric tribe that came to the region in the Bronze Age. Traces of their settlement could still be seen around on island Pag. 1st century B.C. brought the arrival of the Romans, who left numerous archeological and cultural artifacts behind. The Croats arrived in the 7th century along with the great migration and settled in the area. The island was for some time under the rule of the Croatian kingdom. Yet the island was always fought over, and in the 11th and 12th centuries the whole island was split between the community of Rab and the community of Zadar. Novalja was given to the community of Rab by Croatian King Petar Krešimir IV. From the 12th to 14th centuries, Novalja, along with other Dalmatian towns and islands were the subject of fierce fights between the Republic of Venice and Croatian-Hungarian rulers. From the beginning of the 15th century and for the next four centuries, Venice ruled much of the island until Napoleon abolished it and Austria and France began battling for the Dalmatian area. Eventually, Austria won and the island was given back to the control of Venice. The island continue to pass through many different rulers, from Austria to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia after I World War, and then under Independent State of Croatia rule (1941-1945), during which time the Croatian coast was divided with Italy. Island of Pag, Island of Hvar and Brač were Croatian islands, while Italy had area from Zadar up to Omiš and rest of the islands. After the war island goes back under the Yugoslavia, and then finally to new founded independent republic Croatia. The island today is divided between two counties, with Novalja and Stara Novalja being part of the northern Lika-Senj County. Special attractions are its beautiful sand and pebble beaches which surround it. Numerous restaurants, pubs and bistros have at your disposal a rich variety of choices, from the simplest to the chosen dishes. Terraces of different cafes create a special summer atmosphere where guests can refresh and enjoy in coffee, coctails, icecream and music. On almost every bigger beach can be found a wide range of recreational and sports programs (slides, scooters, windsurfing ...). Many visitors, especially younger entertained until late at night in a modern night-clubs on open air on the beach Zrce. The town have Roman aqueducts, where the temperature is chilly fifteen degrees Celsius. You can see Stomorica a large collection of early Christian antiquities, and the basilica urban faithfully preserved mosaics. There is also Cissa (beach Caska today) remains a large military camp built by the Roman army. Novalja has become a destination for many tourists because of its location in a warm cove between the pine forest, and a real Mediterranean atmosphere filled with wonderful beaches.